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  • kirkroy
    Established Member
    • Feb 2007
    • 343
    • Brunswick, MD
    #1

    Home electric/disposal

    My garbage disposal stopped working the other day. I've gone around checking for tripped breakers and GCFI outlets and found nothing. I checked the voltage and there is a tiny bit at the switch (about 10% of what shows up at the light switch right next to it). I can't actually read the values on the meter as the writing is too tiny...

    Anyway, any ideas on what the problem could be? There's a breaker just for the disposal...

    Thanks,

    Kirk
    Tags: None
    • LCHIEN
      Super Moderator
      • Dec 2002
      • 22031
      • Katy, TX, USA.
      • BT3000 vintage 1999
      #2
      there's usually a small circuit breaker on the disposal itself... did you check that?
      Loring in Katy, TX USA
      If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
      BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

        Comment

        • kirkroy
          Established Member
          • Feb 2007
          • 343
          • Brunswick, MD
          #3
          Originally posted by LCHIEN
          there's usually a small circuit breaker on the disposal itself... did you check that?
          Yes, sorry I forgot to mention that...

            Comment

            • dlminehart
              Veteran Member
              • Jul 2003
              • 1829
              • San Jose, CA, USA.
              #4
              Maybe there are some electrons jammed in the cord. Disposals are susceptible to jamming. Can you reverse the polarity to unjam them?
              - David

              “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” -- Oscar Wilde

                Comment

                • Rand
                  Established Member
                  • May 2005
                  • 492
                  • Vancouver, WA, USA.
                  #5
                  Can you clarify something?

                  There is an electrical box with a light switch and a disposal switch in it?

                  One of the wires on the light switch has 110-120 volts in both switch positions?

                  One of the wires on the disposal switch has only 10 volts in both switch positions?

                  If that's the case then the hot wire feeding the disposal switch is either broken or has a really bad connection. I would turn the breaker off, verify that there is no power and re-do all the connections in that box.
                  Rand
                  "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like your thumb."

                    Comment

                    • kirkroy
                      Established Member
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 343
                      • Brunswick, MD
                      #6
                      Originally posted by dlminehart
                      Maybe there are some electrons jammed in the cord. Disposals are susceptible to jamming. Can you reverse the polarity to unjam them?
                      Why didn't I think of that?

                        Comment

                        • kirkroy
                          Established Member
                          • Feb 2007
                          • 343
                          • Brunswick, MD
                          #7
                          Originally posted by Rand
                          Can you clarify something?

                          There is an electrical box with a light switch and a disposal switch in it?

                          One of the wires on the light switch has 110-120 volts in both switch positions?

                          One of the wires on the disposal switch has only 10 volts in both switch positions?

                          If that's the case then the hot wire feeding the disposal switch is either broken or has a really bad connection. I would turn the breaker off, verify that there is no power and re-do all the connections in that box.
                          You've got it. I'll re-do the connections. Thanks!

                            Comment

                            • kirkroy
                              Established Member
                              • Feb 2007
                              • 343
                              • Brunswick, MD
                              #8
                              Turns out it was just the switch...

                                Comment

                                • Hellrazor
                                  Veteran Member
                                  • Dec 2003
                                  • 2091
                                  • Abyss, PA
                                  • Ridgid R4512
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by dlminehart
                                  Maybe there are some electrons jammed in the cord.
                                  I hate when that happens.

                                    Comment

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